Conference features documentary premiere

2024 PI Conference to be held in Chicago on June 20-22

Baltimore, MD

The Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) will host 1,000+ attendees at the 2024 PI Conference from  June 20-22 in Chicago, Ill. at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk. The event is one of the largest gatherings in the world of people living with a primary immunodeficiency (PI).

The PI Conference brings together the entire PI community (patients, caregivers, and clinicians) for two days of connection, learning, and networking. Sessions from world-class immunologists, compelling panel discussions, and opportunities to connect with others are highlights of the conference.

First launched in 2001, the conference has been held in person at ten locations across the United States. The 2024 event will be the first to be held in person since the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year's theme is "Reel talk about primary immunodeficiency" and will include the world premiere of IDF’s new feature-length documentary, "Compromised: Life without immunity" by filmmaker Zachary Moore. The film explores the impossible decisions faced by those living with PI and highlights the resilience, hope, and determination of the community. The film will be livestreamed on YouTube Live and Facebook Live on Friday, June 21 at 7:45 p.m. CT.

Compromised features a new song, “Carry On”, by Ironmouse, an online entertainer, singer, streamer, and member of the PI community who has amassed more than four million followers across her social platforms. The song, which was created exclusively for the film, captures the heaviness and hope of living with PI. 

Watch the live stream on YouTube Live at 7:45 p.m. (CT)

“We’re grateful to have the opportunity to bring the PI community back together at the 2024 PI Conference in Chicago,” said Jorey Berry, President and CEO of the Immune Deficiency Foundation. “This will be one of our most well-attended conferences in recent memory. Our team has been intentional about making certain we can come together safely, and we know that gathering in person helps us strengthen our community and provide meaningful support to the people we serve and their families.”

Primary immunodeficiencies (PIs), also known as inborn errors of immunity (IEI), are a group of more than 450 rare, chronic conditions in which part of the body's immune system is missing or does not function correctly. According to the National Institutes of Health, there are approximately 500,000 individuals in the U.S. with a PI. These conditions are caused by hereditary genetic defects and can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. PI can cause infection, malignancy (cancer), allergy, autoimmunity, autoinflammation, or any simultaneous combination of these issues.

Sponsors of the PI Conference include Takeda, CSL Behring, Grifols, Pfizer, Amgen, GC Biopharma, Pharming, X4, Accredo, and Octapharma.

About the Immune Deficiency Foundation

The Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) is the largest primary immunodeficiency (PI) patient advocacy group in the United States, with 44 years of expertise in primary immunodeficiency. As such, we take pride in helping to connect, engage, and empower families to live longer, stronger, healthier lives. Whether you are looking for subject matter experts on PI (clinicians or patients), information about an upcoming event, or a statement from the organization on a particular topic, we can offer guidance and resources in a variety of areas, including:

•    Stories of rare, chronic, or invisible illness.
•    Insurance access challenges.
•    Plasma supply (and plasma-derived therapies).
•    Issues related to the immunocompromised.
•    The importance of newborn screening (particularly related to SCID).
•    Genetic and inherited conditions.
•    General healthcare or nonprofit topics.
•    Difficult/long journeys to diagnosis.